Printing-press



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. PROUTY. PRINTING PRESS.

No. 249,989. Patented Nov. 22,1881.

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WITNESSES By his uqZCorneys (No Model.) 5 sheets sneet 2.

E. PROUTY.

PRINTING PRESS. No. 249,989. Patented Nov. 22,1881.

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E. PROUTY.

PRINTING PRESS.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.,

E. PROUTY.

PRINTING PRESS. No. 249,989. Patented Nov. 22,1881..

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(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 5.

E. PROUTY. PRINTING PRESS. No. 249,989. Patented Nov. 22,1881.

INVENTOR WITNESSES Em 072/ Frau/Z21 1 By his .flttorneys N. PETERS. MWDMIHM Waihinghm. D C.

I llmrne States PATENT @rrrcn ENOOH PROUTY, OF BOSCOBEL, WISCONSIN.

PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 249,989, dated November 22, 1881.

Application filed August 12, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENOOH PROU'IY, of Boscobel, in the county of Grant and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Myimprovements relate to the kind of printing-press known as the Prouty press, shown in my-United States Letters Patent No.206,826, of August 6, 1878, and designed to be adapted for a great variety of work, and for printing large or small sheets, from the size of a card to that of a poster, with equal facility.

In general character my improved press is similar to that of my said patentthat is to say, I have a main frame, upon which a rotating cylinder (to which the paper to be printed is fed) is caused to reciprocate by suitable mechanism over an adjustable type bed,which is raised and lowered at the proper times to make the impression, and then to get out of the way for the return of the cylinder. I also have an ink-fountain and reciprocating inkingrollers for inking the type, &c.; but in my new press I provide improved means for gri ping the paper, improved means for guiding and securing the cylinder during the reciprocation, improved means for raising and lowering the type-bed, improved means for securing the blanket to the cylinder, and improved means for delivering the printed sheets, whereby I dispense with tapes and fliers, all of which I will now proceed to describe in detail by reference to the letters on the accompanying drawings, and then to specify succinctly in my claims.

Figure l is a perspectiveview of my improved press,showing the parts in position, with the cylinder about midway over the typebed. Fig. 2 is an opposite-side elevation of the-same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the main frame, showing a face view of the cylinder and one end of the type-bed. Fig. 4 is a section through the cylinder on line 4: 4 of Fig. 3,- and Fig. 4; is a similar view, showing the gripers in reversed position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a part of the cylinder shown in Fig. 4-, for better illustration. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the cylinder on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a (No model.)

longitudinal section of the cylinder on the lines 7 7 of Figs. 3 and 6. Fig. Sis a transverse section of the inking-fountain on the line 8 S of Fig. 9; and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section.

A indicates the main frame, provided with strong side rails, 13, for the support of the reciprocating parts. placed at suitable elevation the usual inclined feed-table, 0, upon which the blank sheets to be printed are laid ready to be seized, one at a time, by the cylinder D. This cylinder is reciprocated by carriages, which move in ways along the rails B and carry with them theinking-rollers. The ihkfountain E is located upon the same end of the frame with the feedtable 0, and underneath that table. The reciprocating mechanism consists of the main driving-wheel F, the pitman-rod G, the rockshaft H, the levers I, the links K, the arm L, and the rod M, and their minor connections; but I do not confine myself to this particular reciprocating mechanism, as it may be varied.

From this general outline of the organization of the parts it will be understood that the sheets upon the feed-table are seized, one at a At one end of the frame is Y time, by the gripers of the cylinder, wound around it, andcarried over the printing-bed and printed, and then released and dropped away. When the type is inked by the rolls the return reciprocation is made, and the operation thus continued indefinitely.

I Referring, now, more particularly to the details of the parts constituting my improvements and their operation- First. As to my improved griping mechanism, N indicates a lug, which projects from the longitudinal cylinder-opening 0 out close to one end of the cylinder. This lug by its shoulders O is secured to two slide-rods, P, which pass through the yoke Q and straddle the cylinder-shaft R, and are surrounded by the coilsprings S, which tend to press the lug outward. The lug N is connected with a short crank, T, by means of a pin, U, working in an elongated slot, V, in the crank, and the latter'is secured to a rock-shaft, W, from which project the gripers X. In suitable positions upon each end of the frame are the projecting arms or cams Y, for the purpose of striking and depressing the lug N as the cylinder moves up to the table to receive a blank sheet and as it nears the end of its opposite movem'entto deposit a printed sheet. As the lug N is depressed, the crank T causes the rock-shaft V to rock, which operates the gripers in one case to gripe a blank sheet and in the other to releaseaprinted sheet. As soon as the lug N is withdrawn from the pressure of the cams Y, it is thrown out by the springs S, and the gripers assume the position of griping after a sheet has been fed, and the open or releasing position after a sheethas been printed, so as to release the printed sheet and be ready to receive a blank sheet. This movement is owing to the fact that the cams Y strike the lug N from opposite sides and tend to press it not onlyinward, but also to push it or tilt it a little in opposite directions,and the elongation of the crank-slotVpermits the lug and its supporting-frame to tilt, so that in one case the lug is sprung out by the springs S on one side of the rock-shaft \V and then on the other alternately, thus opening or closing the gripers, as above explained. This movement is well illustrated in Figs. 4, 4.

Second. As to myimproved means for firmly and steadily carrying the cylinder and inkingrollers in their reciprocations over the typebed, a indicates outward projections from the sides of the rails B, having grooves I) underneath them. 0 indicates carriages, provided with frictionrollers, which run in the overhanging grooves I). These carriages are provided with tubular sockets d, the lower projections of which bear againstth e outside flanges of the rails B at the points 0. Within these sockets are bearing-posts f, made adjustable vertically within the sockets by means of the check-nuts The ends of the cylinder-shaft are mounted in suitable bearings at the tops of the bearingpost-s. The frame of inking-rollers h is connected to the carriages by means of a bracket, 6, or in any suitable manner, so as to reciprocate with the cylinder. By means ofthe checknuts 9 the carriages can be drawn up so that their friction-rollers will bear against the bottoms of the grooves I), while the cylinder bears firmly upon its tracks j on the upper surfaces of the rails. Thus a strong and firm guide and support are formed for the cylinder during its reciprocations, preventing its being raised, and insuring its movement to and fro always exactly in the same plane by the reciprocating mechanism. 1 provide gear-wheels k on opposite ends of the cylinder, and rack-bars 1 upon the rails, not so much for the purpose of giving rotary motion to the cylinder as to prevent any liability to slip when in operation.

Third. As to my improved means for raising andloweringthetype-bed,mindicatestwo rockshafts, supported upon brackets n underneath the rails B. Passing through these rock-shafts 'are four screw-posts, 0, adjustable vertically by means of the check-nuts 19. These screwposts have large semicircular caps at their tops, which fit in correspondingly-shaped sockets in the bottom of the type-bed. Projecting downward from one of the rock'shafts is a lug, q, slotted at its lower end in two places for the passage of spring buffer-rods M and 1'. The operation of these parts for raising and lowering the type-bed is as follows: In the first place, the check-nuts and screw-posts serve to accurately adjust the type-bed in the true position for printing. Supposing the type-bed to be thus adjusted, the gearing and connections are such and the movements of the parts are so timed that when the cylinder comes to position to take a blank sheet of paper the rod M has passed forward through its slot in the lug q, so that its spring-bufi'er s strikes the lug q and pushes it to a perpendicular position. This operates both of the rock-shafts and carries the screw-posts which support the typebcd also to a perpendicular position and elevates the type-bed, so that the cylinder, as it moves away from the feed-table with the blank sheet of paper, will impinge against the type and print the sheet. and immediately afterward the in king-rollers will freshly ink the type. After the printing has been done, and when the cylinder has nearly reached the delivery end of the press, the collar t upon the end of the rod M will strike the opposite side of the lug q, throw it out of perpendicular, and operate the rock-shafts and screw-posts so as to lower the type-bed and permit the cylinder to pass back for a fresh sheet without striking the type. The spring'bufi'er u upon the rod 1' is merely for the purpose of preventing shock and easing the dropping ot' the bed.

Fourth. As to my improved means for securing the blanket to the cylinder, 0) indicates a bar extending nearly the whole length of the cylinder in its interior on the margin of the longitudinal griper-opening. This bar is provided with small brads,aboutfour inches apart,which project into corresponding holes 10 in the cylinder; or the brads may be set in the cylinder to project inward, and the holes may be made in the bar to receive them. Passing through the wall of the cylinder, near each end, are two screws, 00, which enter the bar 0 and serve to hold it in place. On the side of this bar is another bar, y, secured in place by the clampscrews 2. The purpose of this mechanism is to secure one margin of the blanket and tympan, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, where it will be seen the brads are set through the edge of the blanket, which is then clamped securely by means of the screws .27 and bar v, and then the blanket is drawn outward around the cylinder. The tympan is secured between the two bars and clamped by the screws z, and drawn around the cylinder in like manner over the blanket. The blanket and tympan, being wound firmly around the cylinder to the opposite side of the griper-opening, are drawn into the interior of the cylinder and hooked onto a row of brads, a, projecting inwardly from a bar, W. This bar is adjustable radially by means of screws a passing through it and enterin g the cylinder-shaft, as clearly shown in IIO Figs. 6 and 7, whereby the blanket and tympan may be drawn tight, as desired.

I am aware that it is not new, broadly, to tighten a blanket upon a cylinder by the use of a screw projecting radially from the cylinderaXis, and I do not claim that, broadly. My claims are limited to the improvements in the structure of the blanket seeurin g and tightening parts, as above described, when arranged and combined as set forth.

Fifth. As to means for inking, which I show but do not claim, (1 indicates an ink-receptacle, having the ordinary ink-roller, e revolving in the ink, and knife f indicates set-screws passing through the plate 71. and engaging with the knife so as to positively control its movement upward as well as downward. For this purpose the lower ends of the screws are cut away or shouldered down to small pins or journals i ,which pass loosely through theknife and receive upon their lower ends collars or washers, which are held in place by riveting the ends of the pins against them. The result is that the screws will turn freely to raise or lower the knife positively and regulate the amount of ink upon the upper part of the roller.

Sixth. Referring to my improved means for delivering the printed sheets, I provide areceptacle between the ends of the rails, and beyond the type-bed,with a bottom or table, W, for receiving the printed sheets from the cylinder. When short sheets are to be printed I provide a lug, P, which I secure by means of a screw in the proper position upon one of the rails B, as shown in Fig. 2, to be struck by the lug N at the proper time to release the gripers and drop the sheet. This lug P, I remove when longer sheets are to be printed. Thus I deliver the sheets, whether long or short, over each other, one at a time, without the aid of tapes or fliers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

2. The combination of the rails B, provided with the projections and grooves a I), the carriages 0, provided with friction-rollers running in the overhanging grooves I), the tubular sockets d, bearing against the flanges of the rails at the points-e, and the adjustable bearingposts f, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the type-bed, of the rock-shafts m, the adjustable screw-posts 0, the slotted lug q, and thespring buffer-rods M r, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the cylinder, of the bars '0 and y, the blanket-securing brads, and the screws 00 and a, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with the cylinder and its axis, of the adjustable bar b its brads, and the screws 0 directly entering the axis, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

o. The combination ofthe adjustable and removable lug i with the rail B and the lug N upon the cylinder, whereby the printing and delivering of short sheets of variable length is provided for, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the cylinder, the printing-bed, and the rails, of the receptacle between the ends of the rails and the table or bottom 79, for receiving the printed sheets directly from the cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ENOOH PROUTY.

Witnesses:

JOHN It. MURRISH, JOHN DENN. 

